A/N: At this point I don't have much to say other than . . . "School's out, school's out, teacher's let the monkey's out!" Well I've got chap 9 done and 10 started but I'll wait on posting 9 right away 'cause I'm planning on working on my other fics first. (Madame Dousman is my character too.)
James woke up Christmas morning bright and fresh. He looked out across the room to see that Sirius was just waking up while Peter was still sound asleep and probably would be for the rest of the day unless woken up. There was an empty bed in the room, Remus'. It had been a full moon. Remus had claimed that he was sick and had to go see Madame Dousman the school nurse.
"Merry Christmas," called James as Sirius sat up. (A/N: Real quick, in my book it at Christmas everyone says "Merry Christmas" and yet in the movie they say "Happy Christmas". I decide to go with "Merry Christmas" if you prefer "Happy Christmas" let me know and I'll change it.)
"Merry Christmas," Sirius replied as he looked over the presents at the end of his bed.
"Should we wake him?" asked James nodding over at the still sleeping Peter.
"Sure why not?" answered Sirius, "No wait! I just got an idea! You up for a little prank?"
"You know I am. I'm always up for one."
"Alright then here's the plan . . ."
Remus woke up lying on the floor of the shack now dubbed the 'Shrieking Shack' by many. Every bone in his body ached. He got up with much stiffness and pain. Why did the moon have to come Christmas Eve? Remus then began the long, tiresome and painful walk to the infirmary.
"Come here dear," cooed Madame Dousman as she ushered Remus into an open bed. Remus wearily complied.
"Take this," she ordered handing Remus a concoction that was to help with the pain. She then rushed out to get the sleeping potion and a healing medicine to treat all his cuts and scratches. The plump elderly woman had her ways, always doing things in a precise order in a precise way, if anyone tried to suggest it any differently or tried to argue she took great offense; something Remus learned early on with her.
Madame Dousman then entered, setting the potions down on the bedside table. She then filled a cotton swab with a green concoction and started to dab at Remus' cuts and scratches. It stung every time she dabbed somewhere but instantly the cut would be healed.
"Look's like last night wasn't too bad," commented Madame Dousman turning to fill a goblet with the sleeping potion. She handed him the potion ordering him to drink it all and get some rest. Remus shuddered as he drank the concoction; it tasted worse every time he had it.
"Peter, wake up! Merry Christmas!" exclaimed James violently shaking Peter awake.
"Huh?" ask Peter groggily rolling over making some angry grunts trying to sleep some more.
"It's Christmas! Wake up!" called James again.
"Let me sleep," answered Peter pulling the covers over his head and mumbling, "Why do you insist on getting up so early in the morning?"
"Sirius, bring in the water!" ordered James.
"No, wait! I'm up! I'm up!" insisted Peter sitting up not wanting to get cold water dumped on him yet, again.
"Great," answered James going back over to his bed to open his presents, "Merry Christmas by the way."
"Merry Christmas," grumbled Peter still upset about being woken up so early, "Might as well open presents now that I'm up."
Peter then scooted to the end of his bed to find no presents. "Hey! Were are my presents?"
"You didn't get any presents?" asked Sirius in utter shock setting down his box of Bertie Blots.
"Where's my presents!" exclaimed Peter getting out of bed to look for them.
"What'd you guys do with my presents?" demanded Peter.
"I don't know what you're talking about," answered James with an expressionless face.
"Yes you do!" insisted Peter, "You two did something with them!"
"Sorry Pete, can't help you there," answered Sirius beginning to thoroughly enjoy the prank. The two watched as Peter searched all over for his presents.
"This isn't funny anymore," exasperated Peter plopping down onto his bed. When he did, his hand hit an invisible something; he then grabbed at it and tore the invisibility cloak off. He then threw the cloak at a laughing James and began to pout.
"Aw, come on Peter," cajoled Sirius between fits of laughter, "we would have told you eventually."
"Sure," sarcastically agreed Peter finally grabbing a present to open.
Later that morning James and Sirius were walking back from trying to visit Remus in the infirmary. Peter had gone with them and decided to go to the owlery instead of heading back to the common room.
"James," started Sirius, "does there seem to be more to Remus' regular disappearances than meets the eye?"
"You've noticed it too?" asked James.
"Yeah, you don't think he could be a, you know . . ."
"I don't know, but there sure seems to be a lot of evidence pointing too it," answered James.
"I know, but that's what bugs me, I would think that Remus would tell us instead of covering it up with all those lies."
"Who knows, Siri, maybe he's afraid."
"Of what, us?"
"Maybe, I know that if the situation was reversed, I'd have a hard time telling anyone."
"I see what you're saying," agreed Sirius, "Should we tell him we know or just let him to continue on with the bad lying?"
"I say tell him, I don't think I can stand another bad lie."
"What about Peter?"
"We'll tell him when we confront Remus," decided James.
Remus woke up feeling better but still drained. At the foot of his bed were his Christmas presents.
"I thought you'd like to open them when you got up," mentioned Madame Dousman as she walked in.
"Thank you," answered Remus grabbing a package.
"No problem dear, your friends were here to see you earlier. I told them that you were resting but you'd be out to see them after you woke up, so you're free to go when you wish."
"Thank you," answered Remus again.
That evening after lunch, dinner and a snow fight in between, Remus, Sirius, Peter and James were relaxing in the practically empty Common Room.
"Remus, we need to talk to you," mentioned James.
"Yeah, what is it?" asked Remus.
"We," started James clearing his throat, "know."
"Know? Know what?"
"I think it best if we went upstairs," answered James.
"Alright," agreed Remus as everyone got up to go to the Dorm Room.
Once they were all in the Dorm Room and seated all about it James began again, "Remus, we know."
"About what?"
"We know why you have to go every month."
Remus instantly went pale, "Of course you do! I've told you; I've been sick, someone's died . . ."
"Did anyone ever tell you that you're a bad liar?" interrupted Sirius.
"I haven't . . ." started Remus suddenly going paler than before; he then made a run for it.
"Oh, no you don't," answered Sirius as he and James pulled Remus back down into his seat on the bed.
"Could someone tell me what's going on?" demanded Peter tired of being clueless.
"Should I tell him or should you?" asked James letting go of the now calmer Remus.
"I don't know maybe you should," answered Sirius sitting down next to Remus as James had done.
"I'll tell him," volunteered Remus standing up, "It looks like there's no use denying it any longer."
"Denying what?" asked Peter.
"I think it best if I start from the beginning . . ."
A/N: Sorry for originally not having this last scene up I don't know what I was thinking by cutting this chapter short. I admit that this is a bit of a cliffy but 9 will be soon on its way. You'll find out how Remus got bit and became a werewolf.